Existing comment:
Reuben James
by Dorothy Short
Boatswain's Mate Reuben James served with Stephen Decatur during the Barbary Wars. During the fight to capture an Algerian gunboat, an American seaman placed himself between Decatur and an enemy blade. This act of bravery is attributed to Daniel Frazier or to Reuben James who is pictured here with his injured arm. |